The one thing holding Labour MPs back, we keep being told, is the absence of an alternative candidate for the leadership. Even if the various rival factions could agree on a candidate, why should anyone want the job?

Comrades, you are forgetting John Reid. The likeable Celtic chairman has held virtually every other job in the Cabinet – Health, Home Office, Defence, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Leader of the House: a talent of all the ministries, as it were. He is easily the most popular and plausible Labour politician before the focus groups. And he might just be willing to do his party one last service (hat tip, The First Post).

If he took over, Labour would still lose. But if the party cleaves to Gordon Brown, it faces al-Nakba: a catastrophe. I haven't mentioned Reid before since, to be honest, I didn't want to put the idea into anyone's head. But, now that Iain Martin has flagged him up, there is no purpose in keeping quiet.

One point, though. Such advantage as may accrue to Labour from ditching the Fifeshire feartie will be lost if there is further delay. To put it another way, had Labour taken my advice and changed leader in May, when it was already clear that the Broon's position was irrecoverable, it wouldn't be in this mess. Every day that passes now confirms the impression of a self-obsessed Cabinet, wrangling over promotions and preferment as Britain scrabbles into recession. If it were done when 'tis done, gentlemen, then 'twere well it were done quickly.